A26932:675
Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor
Gildas Salvianus, the reformed pastor showing the nature of the pastoral work, especially in private instruction and catechizing : with an open confession of our too open sins : prepared for a day of humiliation kept at Worcester, Decemb. 4, 1655 by the ministers of that county, who subscribed the agreement for catechizing and personal instruction at their entrance upon that work / by their unworthy fellow-servant, Richard Baxter ...Gildas Salvianus, the reformed pastor shewing the nature of the pastoral work, especially in private instruction and catechizing : with an open confession of our too open sins : prepared for a day of humiliation kept at Worcester, Decemb. 4, 1655 by the ministers of that county, who subscribed the agreement for catechizing and personal instruction at their entrance upon that work / by their unworthy fellow-servant, Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1656
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. For the first of these. 1. We have on us the Obligation of Scripture-precepts. 1. General. 2. Special. And 2. the subservient obligation (or the first bound faster on us) by Promises and Threatenings. 3. And these also seconded by executions, even 1. by actual Judgements: 2. and mercies. And lastly, we have the Obligation of our own undertaking upon us. These all deserve your Consideration, but may not be insisted on by me, lest I be over tedious.
1. For the first of these. 1. We have on us the Obligation of Scripture-precepts. 1. General. 2. Special. And 2. the subservient obligation (or the first bound faster on us) by Promises and Threatnings. 3. And these also seconded by executions, even 1. by actual Judgements: 2. and mercies. And lastly, we have the Obligation of our own undertaking upon us. These all deserve your Consideration, but may not be insisted on by me, lest I be over tedious.
1. Every Christian is Obliged to do all that he can for the salvation of others, but every Minister is doubly obliged, because he is separated to the Gospel of Christ, and is to give up himself wholly to that ⟨p. 356⟩work. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 15. It is needless to make any further question of our Obligation, when we know that this work is needful to our peoples conversion and salvation, and that we are in general commanded to do all that is needful to those ends, as far as we are able. That they are necessary to those ends hath been showed before; and shall be more anon. Even the ancient professors, have need to be taught the Principles of Gods Oracles, if they have neglected it, or forgot it, saith the Apostle, [Greek or Hebrew] Heb. 5. 12. Whether the unconverted have need of conversion and the means of it, I hope is no doubt among us: And whether this be a means, and a needful means, experience may put us far out of doubt, if we had no more. Let them that have taken most pains in public, examine their people, and try whether many of them be not yet as ignorant and careless almost, as if they had never heard the Gospel. For my part, I study to speak as plainly and movingly as I can, (and next my study to speak truly, these are my chief studies) and yet I frequently meet with those that have been my hearers this 8. or 10. years, who know not whether Christ be God or man, and wonder when I tell them the history of his birth, and life, and death, and sending abroad the Gospel, as if they had never heard it before, and that know not that Infants have any original sin: And of those that know the History of the Gospel, how few are they that know the nature of that faith, repentance, and holiness, that it requireth; Or at least, that know their own hearts? But most of them have an ungrounded affiance in